The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-01-27
HER B0ATMAN.


dark and sullcn. moved in its rocky bed
like some gigantic serpent hall over
come by the lethargy of sleep.
Here and there the moonbeams fell
npon the surface of the water, great
spots of ,ilycry whitencSs, amidst the
dark shadows cast by the heavy foliage
of the cedar shrubbery which grew be-
tween the almost perpendicular rocks of
tho high banks.
Fifty feet above the surface of the
-water they reared themselves. and at
one point they iutted forward rs if TO
salute each other, while the river be-
meath them dcepcned and narrowed.
At this point bridge had once been
dhrown across--a bridge which had be-
come complete ruin, one timber alone
remaining to mark the spot, one long
and narrow beam--it could not have
been more than six inches in width
still maintained its place, and in mute
Language informed the stranger that
once there had been connection be-
tween Rocky Hill and the mountains
on the other side.
Upon the surface of the river there
was small rowboat, containing a slen-
der, crouchng form wrapped in dark
cloak.
From the top of the bank upon either
side this rowboat would have been in
visible but it was there, making its
way up and down past the rocky butt
ress which upheld the beam, always
avoiding the moonlt spots upon the
river.
The sounds of caroussl were usurp-
dng the place of the quiet of the night
The drunken jest and the course laugh
ser breaking in upon the sentimental
notes Of Home, Sweet Home" sung,
you would have averred, by some lone
ay youth who was Tar from the scenes
of his boyhood-came plainly TO the
cars of this silent watcher upon the riv-
er. who, il seemed, could not tear her.
self away from the sounds which came
from the saloon upon the rivers bank
Ouce only did the moonbeams fall
upon her fair, upturned face.
II was the face of woman who
should never have been in that wild,
lonely spot, listening for the sound of
a voice that had grown TO address her
with refined words which were the
cruelist of the cruel, waiting there up
on that lonely river, for she knew not
what.
Muriel Warner was the daughter of
wealthy parents. She had married,
when very Young. man whom she
had worshipped as the embodiment of
manly worth aud the perfection of
manly beauty. Friends and relatives
had crowded about her with envious
congratulations, and for u time her
7hc was perfect happiness.
But u change had come. Fred War
ner was not what he had seemed On
~ a few short weeks of happiness. and
the handsome husband plunged into
the widest dissipation. Friends re-
maincd to her as long as the money re-
manned, and then they began to hint
shat perhaps Muriel was not altogether
blameless.
This was something which the spir-
tied wife could not stand. She broke
with relatives and friends, and clung TO
khe dissipated man who was her hus-
band From one city 10 another he had
dragged her with him. and now he hG
deserted her and she had followed him.
His was the cultured voice, which
Nvarbled of "Home, Sweet Home.
while his wife was a penniless, half
.rrazed creature, out upon the river
Aud she was penniless. for, regard
gess Of food or shelter, she had paid
out her last cent for the use Of the
boat which brought her, unseen, yet
nearer TO him.
A quick, sharp report broke in up
on the mellow voice of the singer.
II was repeated again and again.
Ii was the report of a revolver
heriel could hear the excited shouts,
fhe heavy trampling of feet, the bang
fng Of door. and then the weird CRY,
~.Murderr'
Half paralyzed. the frightened wo-
rnan rested upon her oars Just under
che beam which had opce' belonged 10
zhe old bridge.
The sound of heavy feet, rapidly
approaching. came from the bank
close at hand. and then a dark form
rushed out between her and the moon
1it sky above her.
Il was a mans figure. and he was at
tempting to cross the river upon the
marrow beam.
Excited shouts and the tramp Of
hurried feet followed him TO the rivers
brink.
stop shouted a voice. Il arrest
YOU for murder"
No reply came from The escaping
figure which sped nimbly along It's